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Post by markym4rk on Jan 1, 2012 18:46:35 GMT -5
hey guys.. I recently discovered a thrips infestation in my collection. I thought i got rid of them by getting rid of 90% of my plants. I guess they took shelter with the last 10% of my plants. Since then my collection has increased and is at great risk! @leny: do nematodes actually wipe them out completely? (Steinernema feltiae nematodes) Anyone ever heard of the thrips destroyer (Amblyseius cucumeris)? Im deciding whether to go for steinernema or amblyseius. I am wondering what the best solution is to my thrips problem? The population is slowly increasing and the hydro store doesnt open until tuesday! Hopefully you guys will get back to me before then. If all fails... i will be investing on some nematodes as a last resort! I hope this works!
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Post by lloyd on Jan 1, 2012 21:04:46 GMT -5
Thrips are everwhere and are very resistant to insecticides. They also don't necessarily harm plants. If there's any exposure to the outside, thrips will get in except in winter. Healthy plants will often fight off thrips. A low strength (not the X2 for scale) neem recipe by Al Bickell (on this forum somewhere) will often reduce them enough so they go away. Caution: any treatment expect CO2 could harm delicate plants. Dry ice may be the best way for a large (enclosed) collection.
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Post by markym4rk on Jan 1, 2012 22:43:46 GMT -5
Someone once mentioned a natural bacteria called BTI. I have no experience with this product. Wondering if any of you have successfully fought off thrips with this?
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Post by markym4rk on Jan 4, 2012 3:15:48 GMT -5
Hey guys.. just an update.. i have decided to purchase a sponge containing approx. 5 million Stienernema feltiae. I will be recieving it as early as Friday and will be using this as a weapon of mass destruction!!! Let's hope this nasty bug turns the tide in this war!
Cheers Mark
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Post by lloyd on Jan 4, 2012 15:57:32 GMT -5
Let us know how it works, sounds like a great idea.
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Post by vraev on Jan 5, 2012 16:57:13 GMT -5
I don't know if this is the same as NIC. But I got a sponge of nematodes from them an year + ago t combat fungus gnats in my tanks. It look a little while, but they worked pretty well. Although, I must say I used it in combination with the yellow sticky traps. I would recommend the same for thrips...I think its blue strips or something that attracts them. Use both techniques to get adults and larvae.
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Post by markym4rk on Jan 5, 2012 18:25:49 GMT -5
thx varun... i already got the sticky yellows in place... i havent caught or spotted an adult thrips yet. I get the Steinernema feltiae nematodes tomorrow.. im so stoked! Sionara thrips!
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Post by Apoplast on Jan 5, 2012 22:37:33 GMT -5
Thanks for the post Mark and for the input vraev! I hadn't heard about these options (though haven't had an pests yet - knock wood). It was good to hear about your success with the fungus gnats vraev. Mark, I'll been keen to hear what your results are for thrips, which can be tricky to control.
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Post by markym4rk on Jan 7, 2012 4:51:06 GMT -5
Hey again..
I finally recieved my nematode army from the hydro store approx 50 million strong!HURRAH! I was told to use about 1/10 of the sponge filled with S. feltiae for every gallon of water and decided to use 2/10 of the sponge with 2 gallons of R.O. water. Thx to my g/f who helped me deliver my weapon of mass destruction i was able to cover all of my plants with some left over while noticing that the mixture smelled like fish :S
As of now, I feel quite relieved and less stressed. Lets hope this works!
Cheers Mark
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Post by vraev on Jan 7, 2012 23:25:46 GMT -5
be prepared to wait a few months Mark. it takes time for the nematodes to do their thing. Keep using sticky traps too (look up the ones needed for thrips).
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Post by markym4rk on Jan 8, 2012 5:37:40 GMT -5
Hey gang... Its been roughly around 23 hours since i applied the nematode mixture. Entomopathogenic Nematodes working with their symbiotic bacteria can kill insects within 24-48 hours as the bacteria spreads rapidly reproducing inside the host! I feel sorry for the thrips now but not as sorry when i remember losing my D. regia to them after the summer. T.T vraev fortunately... i was able to catch this infestation at an early stage.... there has been minimal damage and i just hope they bugger off soon so i can get back on the cp bandwagon! Lets hope this works!
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Post by markym4rk on Jan 8, 2012 18:09:14 GMT -5
quick update... Went to check on the critters this afternoon and found none lurking anywhere inside and outside my terrarium. Usually when I do my first check I notice at minimum 3-4 thrips. After applying the treatment i only noticed 1-2 thrips and after 24 hours of application I have found none. Although I haven't found evidence of an adult thrips I'm hoping the remaining hatched eggs will succumb to the treatment and finally bugger off
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Post by markym4rk on Jan 9, 2012 5:59:46 GMT -5
After doing my last check for the night at roughly 48 hours after the treatment, I found only 1 thrips compared to a usual 3-4 thrips on average without treatment.
I am definately noticing a bounce back on the plants that have been lightly damaged. The new growth on these plants are looking robust and healthy! I'll be keeping a close eye for the next lil bit here and keep you guys updated!
Cheers!
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Post by Apoplast on Jan 9, 2012 12:55:11 GMT -5
Thanks for the updates! I'll be interested to see how long the treatment is effective. Impressive it seems to be working so quickly.
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Post by markym4rk on Jan 9, 2012 15:30:15 GMT -5
Apoplast Np... since everyone is so friendly and helpful on this forum i thought that this would be a way of giving back to the community. Fortunately the treatment works quite quickly.... i just checked on the plants again this morning and found no traces of thrips.... I was told that if the nematodes are taken care of... they will live indefinitely. We'll have to see by the end of the day if there will be any traces of them buggers...
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